Why can’t we just get along?
I’m currently reading Polarized, an amazing book that explores the critical divisions now facing our country. One author is a retired minister and the other is an atheist. They have been best friends since childhood, and they both hold doctorates in their respective fields.
Their hearts are broken because of the awful divisions in our country. I am also heart broken, and have been for several years.
A few of my previous blogs have touched on this subject, and since I continue to have deep feelings about the division, I continue to write in the hopes my words can make a difference. I’m still searching for a way to be part of the solution.
In order to be part of the solution, one must know what the problem/or problems is/are. As I’ve been reading Polarized, I’ve realized one of the main problems is we as a country have lost our ability to be civil.
When I say “we”, I mean the leaders we have elected to lead our nation. The people we voted into office have failed as a collective group to guide us in the direction we should go. Sadly, “we” also means us as we get caught up in their fight, and are not civil to those in our circles who have opinions that differ from ours.
Instead of leading the UNITED States of America, our Congress continue to demonize one another along party lines, and push their own agendas without even trying to hear the other side.
All one has to do is listen to or watch the past several States of the Union addresses to know that is the true picture of our Congress.
Had I been the President, this is what I would have said:
The State of the Union is that we are going to hell in a hand basket. Anyone in this room wanting to truly sit down and figure out TOGETHER how to turn this hand basket around, stay in your seats. I’m ordering Door Dash on my dime, and we’re going to break bread together and make a plan. To the citizens of the United States watching this address, have a good evening, and know that those of us who choose to stay love our country and we love you. We WILL make a plan! Good night and God bless.
Then the cameras would have been removed, the food requests taken and ordered, and we as the people you voted into office would have come up with a plan.
You may say, or think, I’m naive, and maybe I am. However, I still believe the majority of people in our country are good. If we can find our way back to civility, we as THE PEOPLE can turn this hand basket around.
We can decry the words of the extremists on both sides of the aisle in Congress, and WE THE PEOPLE can and will become the PEOPLE WHO MAKE DIFFERENCE.
It’s like a song I used to sing in youth choir. The words were: It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
Let’s be the spark, y’all.
See you next time,
